Laundry room fire forces evacuation of new luxury resort
June 21, 2009 | 12:12 pm

A fire broke out this morning in a laundry room at the new Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, prompting authorities to evacuate part of the luxury complex.

The one-alarm fire apparently started in a laundry room about 11:24 a.m., said Los Angeles County Fire Department Supervisor Melanie Flores.

[Corrected at 6:09 p.m.: A hotel executive said the small fire was put out before firefighters arrived.]

There were no immediate reports of injuries, and it was unclear how much damage was done, Flores said.

The first official overnight guests checked into the Terranea Resort earlier this month. It is a 582-room hotel and spa, and the $480-million resort includes a vast ballroom and golf course and is so big it can host five weddings at once.

[Updated at 12:52 p.m.: The fire in a laundry room at the Terranea Resort was officially knocked down by 12:19 p.m. and engines had left the scene by 12:42 p.m., Flores said.]